Thermostatic urinal automatic flushing apparatus



April 7, -1 925.

1,532,905 J. J. LAWLER THERMOSTATIC URINAL AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 24. 1924 y3 Sheets-Sheet l l April '7, 1925. 1,532,905

J. J. LAWLER THERMOSTATIC URINAL AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 24. 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 FIG.

April 7, 1925. 1,532,905 V Y .1. J. LAWLER -THERMOSTATIC URINAL AUTOMATIC FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 24. 1924 s sneetsfsheet s a6 FIG. 6

100 n 1 l 106.- 9 0 I )A FIG. '7.

Patented Apr. 7, r1925.

UNITED' STATES Param*l ,oFFlcE.

JAMES J'. LAWLER, 0F MOUNT VERI-TON, NEW YORK.

Application filed July 24, 1924. Serial No. 728,006.

To all-whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatI I, JAMES J. LAwLEu, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Urinal Automatic Flushing Apparatus, of whichv the following is a specication.

This invention relates to new and useful .improvements in thermostatic urinal automatic fiushing apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide automatic flushing apparatus for urinals which requires no attention whatever by the user, but gives a proper and a complete flush of water every time the urinal is used.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity of using push but.- tons or pull chains for operating valves and the tanks or reservoirs for maintainingr flushing water in readiness for use; the power employed for controlling 4the water supply valve being derived entirely from the heat units extracted from the urine as .it passes through the waste outlet and the flushing water being taken directly from a supply pipe.

A still further object of the invention is to provide flushing apparatus which .is entirely automat-ic in its operation and insures economy in the consumption of water for the flushing operation is only started when urine, at body temperature, starts {iowing through the waste outlet and the flushing operation ceases immetfliately after the urinal has been properly flushed and the cool flushing water reaches-the-waste outlet.l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificatlon and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 illustrates in vertical section a urinal stall with the. automatic flushing apparatus embodying this invention shown partly in elevation and partly in section,

Figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary portion of the flushing apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and sets forth in vertical section a portion of the urinal stall with a tile or marble finishing slab and a flushometer and the clements immediately associated therewith shown in side elevation and partly in section, v

Flgure 3 illustrates in vertical section the -flushometer structure disclosed in Figs. 1

and 2, v

Figure 4 illustrates in vertical section a strainer for the flushing water supply,

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary portion of the urinal stall with the automatic control for the flushing water, i

Figure 6 illustrates in vertical section a relief valve shown inside elevation in F ig. 5, and 4 Figure 7 illustrates in vertical section the thermostatic operating means employed for actuating the relie-f valve illustrated in Figs.

5and6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 5 designates a crockery stall which may be formed of any desired size or shape most. suitable for the purposes'it is designed for.

Projecting through a suitable opening formed in the top wall 5a of the stall 5 is a water supply pipe 6 having suitably attached to its lower end a spreader 7. A iushometer 8 is, interposed between the water discharge pipe 6 and the water supply pipe 9 which is intended to be connected to any suitable source of supply such as a water main, etc. Intel-posed in the water supply pipe 9 is a strainer 10 which will prevent the entrance of any substance into the llushometer 8 which would prevent the proper operation of the same. ln the lower wall or bottom of the stall 5 is an opening 11 through which the flush water and urine is to be carrie-d olf. A waste pipe coupling 12 is connected to this opening and has connected to its lower end, as by soldering, a lead waste pipe 13 which leads to a trap in any desired and well known manner. Associated with the waste pipe coupling 12 is a relief valve 14 which is connected to the flushometer 8 by a copper relief tube 15. A thermostatic control 16 is illustrated as being associated with the waste pipe coupling'l and the relief valve and operates the latter for starting and stopping the flow of Hush water from the spreader 7. The above description is believed to briefiy outline the various portions of the ap-paratus embodying this invention and the relative positions lUO assumed by t-he same. A detail description of these various portions of the apparatus will now be given.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the top wall 53.01: the crockery stall 5 is illustrated as being provided with an opening through which extends a tube 18 having a portion of its length screw threaded at 19 for receiving the lock nut 20 which engages the under face of the top wall 5 and forv further having. threadedly connected' thereto the stufiing box 21 which includes the washer 22 interposed between the end of the tube 18 and the stuffing box 21. It will be seen that the stuffing box and the lock nut will retain this tube 18 in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of the tube 18 is provided withan inwardly laterally projecting shoulder 23 to which is suitably secured the spreader plate 24 which diverges from the beveled end 25 of the tube.

Projecting into the upper end of the tube 18 and sealed thereto by 'the stuling box 2l isa water discharge pipe 6 which is shown in detail in Fig. 3 as being threadedly con'- nected to the tubular boss 26 carried by the liushometer casing 27 Located at' the point of connection ofthe tubular boss 26 with the casing 27 is an annular inwardly extending flange 28 having a valve seat 29 formed on the inner face thereof. Slidablyv received wit-hin the opening formed by this annular flange 28 is a longitudinally grooved stem 30 having a threaded connection with the block 31 for the purpose of clamping therebetween the valve element 32. The upper end of this block 31 is reduced at 33 and screw-threaded for engagement with the recess 34 formed in the guide 35 which is slidably received within the bore 36 of the removable cap 37 threadedly connected to the body portion 27 of the flushometer. The said block 31 and guide 35 are threadedly connected for the purpose of clamping between their adjacentends the diaphragm 38 which is clamped at its periphery to the casing 27 by the externally screw-threaded ring nut 39 having the diametrically opposed lugs 40 by means of which it'may be screwed in place or removed for attaching or detaching the said diaphragm to the casing 27. It

- will be seen that this diaphragm A38 divides the casin 27 into two chambers, the lower being designated by the numeral 41 whilev the upper chamber is designated by the numeral 42. Communication is established between the chambers by means of the transversely extending passageway 43 formed in the block 41 and the longitudinally extending passageway 44 which'extends from the passageway 43 through the reduced end 33, of the block 31 to the upper portion of the recess 34 formed in the guide 35. A transversely extending passageway 45 forms a communication between the upper end of the recess'34 and the upper chamber 42. It will be seen, that by removing the cap 37, and unthreading the ring nut 39, the entire valve structurewith the diaphragm 38 may be withdrawn from the liushometer casing .In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the casing 27 is illustrated as being provided with a lateral proj ection 46 which is hollow and has rotatably v mounted therein with its axis extending transversely thereto a stop cock 47 by means of which the supply of water may be manually shut olf. This extension 46 is threadedly connected to a nipple 48 that is joined connection 50. The opposite end of the casing 49 is provided with a threaded connect1on 52 into which is threaded the removable cap 53 which carries the Washer 54 for pre-v venting leakage between the casing 49 and the cap. This cap is hollowed out, as at 55 for having soldered therein a perforated sheet brass or wire gauze tube 56 which also projects into the bore of the annular liange 51. The connection 57 of this casing 49 is threadedly attached to the water supply pipe 9, see Figs. 1 and 2. It will now water passing from the pipe 9 to the nipple 48 must pass through the strainer 56 which will prevent any undersirable substance from entering the iiushometer casing 27 The upper chamber 42 of the iushometer casing 27 is illustrated as having connected thereto a nipple 58 which extends to a union 59 that is joined at its opposite end to a second nipple 60 having a union 61 for connecting its outer end to a copper relief tube 15, see Fig. 1, which extends to the relief valve 14, see Figs. 1, 5 and 6.

By examining F 'i0's. 1 and 2 it will be seen that a tile -or marble finishing slab 62 is mounted upon the top wall 5a of the crockery stall 5 and has formed therein a suitable opening or openings for permitting the nipples 48 and 60 to pass therethrough. The front face of this tile or marble finishing slab 62 is provided with an escutcheon 63 which is shown as being provided with a tubular boss 64 externally screw-threaded for receiving the lock nut 65 employed for fastening the escutcheon 63 to the slab 62. It will'be seen that the nipple 60 passes through the bore of this tubular boss 64.

By inspecting Figs. 1 and 5, it willbe seen that the opening 11 formed in the botbe seen that tom wall 5b of the Crockery stall 5 is p-rovided with a shoulder 66 which is formed bv the annularflange 67 formed integrally with the. said stall 5. This shoulder 66 or fiange 67 is provided for having clamped thereto the sleeve 68 which is provided with an annular outwardly projecting flange 69 at its upper end that engages the shoulder 66 and`has threaded to its lower end a waste pipe coupling 70, a washer 71 being interposed between the flange 72, carried by the upper end of the waste pipe coupling and the bottom face of the annular flange 67 It will be seen by tightening the waste pipe coupling 70 upon the threaded end of the sleeve 68, both of these elements will be rigidly secured to the iange 67.

The waste pipe coupling 70 is illustrated in Fig. 6 as having formed in the side wall thereof an aperture 7 3 which is provided with diametrically opposed' outwardly extending notches 74. Attached to this portion of the side wall of the waste pipe coupling 70 is a reversely curved relief valve casing 75 having a reduced internally and externally screw-threaded connection 76 extending from one end thereof. A fiange 77 is also provided on this end of the casing 75 and has formed therewith diametrically opposed outwardly extending lugs 78 which are to be received within the notches 74 formed in the wall of the waste pipe coupling 70 and extending outwardly of the opening or aperture 7 3. A ylock nut 7 9' is threaded on this'redueed portion 76 and is employed for clamping the washer 80 and the relief valve caslng 75 to the waste pipe coupling 70 so that all of these elements will form a rigid structure. In Fig. 5 there is shown aI threaded nipple 81 which is connected to the threaded bore of the reduced portion 76 of the relief valve casing 75 and has joined to its outer end a union 82 which connects it to the copper relief tube 15 which extends to the upper chamber 42 of the fiusholneter 8.

rIhe outer flared end 83 of the relief valve casing 75 is adapted to have threadedly connected thereto a cylindrical cap 84 which has its outer end formed into a tubular boss 85. Slidable within the bore of this boss is al longitudinally lgrooved valveguide 86 which carries a reduced end 87 to which is pand 4for being moved into engagement with threadedly connected the valve stem 88 havl ing an enlarged pocket 89 formed at its end which; is connected to the guide 86. Received within this pocket 89 is a. valve'element 90 which is adapted for engaging the inner end of the tubular boss carried by the cylindrical `cap 84. Threadedly con.- nected to the inner end of this cap 84 is aguide ring 91 which receives the inner eno of the lvalve stein 88 in a centrally positioned aperture and has acircular series of,y apertures 92 formed .therein concentric with the aperture within which slides the valve stein 88. nterposed between this slightly guide ring 91 and the inner face of the enlarged cup 89 is a coil spring 93 which normally operates to retain thel valve element against the seat formed by the inner end of the tubular boss 85.

Secured to the fiange 69 of the sleeve 68, as by a plurality of screws 94, is a strainer plate 95 having the apertures 96 arranged therein. This strainer plate 95 is provided with a vertically extending tubular boss 97 provided with a rabbeted end 98 that is externally screw-threaded for receiving the cap 99. The bore of this tubular boss 97 is screw-threaded for having attached thereto the block 100. This block is provided with a relatively large bore 101 having its face screw-threaded for the reception of the plug 102 which holds in place the sealing washer or disk '103 that closes the relatively small portion 104 of the 'bore formed in the block 100. The plug 105 is threadedly connected to the end of this bore 101 for closing the same and for preventing accidental removal of the plug 102. The block is further provided with a bored portion 106 which c closed at its free end 109. Suitably secured within the lower portion of the bored part 106 of the block 100 is a tube 110 which from the block 100 and terminates above the upper end of the grooved valve guide 86 of the relief valve 14. Telescopically arranged within this tube 110 and secured thereto at. lthe adjacent upper ends of the same is a corrugated expandible tube vor chamber 111 which has its lower end 112 slightly projecting beyond the lower end of the tube 110 and closed by a plug 113 which is secured iny the bore ot' this element 111 in any desired manner. The expansible corrugated tube.. 111 communicates with the bore of the coil 108 through the passageway 107 formed in the block 100 and this Itube 111 and the coil 10S are intended to-be filled with a liquid which,

depen ds when heated, will cause the tube 111-to ex-t Athe grooved valve 70 a lead or iron waste ,pipe 13 which is for moving its lower end out of engagement ply water into y element 90.

to be connected at its opposite end to a waste trap, not shown.

The operation of this thermostatic urinal automatic flushing apparatus may be described' as follows:-

It will be considered that the volatile liquid within the thermostatic structure 16 is at a suitable temperature for causing the lower end of the expansible tube 1 11 with its plug 113 to be spaced from the upper end of the groovedvalve guide 86 so that the valve element 90 will be seated. By turning on the supply of water by opening the stop cock 47, flushing water will start to flow from the supply pipe 9 through the strainer 10-into the lower chamber 41 of the ilushometer casing 27. This water will pass through the passageway 43, and bore 44 formed in the block 31 and through the recess 34 and passageway45 in the valve guide 35 into the upper chamber of the lushometer casing 27 from whence it will travel into the copper relief tube 15. In view of the fact' that the relief valve is closed, the water willfillv up this relief tube15 and will fill the upper chamber 42,0f lthe casing 27. The pressure. on both .sides of the flexible diaphragm 38 will then be equal and the valve 32 will be in engagement with the valve seat 29 for preventing the discharge of the supthe pipe 6 and from thence through the spreader 7.

When a person uses the stall 5, the urine,l

at body temperature, will liow through the openings l96in the strainer plate 95 and will -fall upon the coil 108 of the thermostatic control. The heat units in the urine will be radiated to the liquid within this coil 108 and the liquid will expand for causing the tube 111 to lengthen for engaging the grooved valve guide 86. to unseat the valve rlvhe unseating of this valve elementl will permit the water inthe copper relief tube 15 to flow into the waste pipe coupling 70 from whence it will travel through the waste pipe 13 to the trap. The

withdrawing of the water from the tube 15 and the upper chamberA2 of the liushometer casing 27 will relieve the pressure from above the flexible diaphragm 38. The pressure below this diaphragm, or the pressure ofthe supply water', will then cause the diaphragm to flex upwardly for unseating the valve 32. The flushing water will then, be discharged into the" water. discharge pipe 6 andfrom there against the spreadenplate 27 which will cause'thev flushing water to be thrown against the rearAwall of :the'cr'oclc ery stall 5.

As this ycooler flushing water reaches coil 108, it will cool olf'the liquid housed therein andthe liquid will contract for permitting the expansible` tube 111 to be axially shortened, due to ,thev resiliency Vof thesame,

with the relief valve element 90. The spring 93 will then seat this valvev element 90 and the lower end. of the relief tube 15 will be closed. Water will then again enter the upper chamber 42 of the l'lushometer casing 2O and will travel from there into the tube 15 which will be filled along with the chamber 42 for equalizing the pressure upon both sides of the flexible diaphragm 38. The equalizing of the pressure on both sides of this diaphragm will'again `seat the valve 32 for shutting off the supply of flush water.

It is now believed that the construction,

lmanner of assembly and method of operation of this automatic urinal flush apparatus will be understood from the above detail description of the same and that no further explanation is deemed necessary.

, It is to be understood that the formA of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

means for operating said relief valve upon a..

1change in temperature within the waste outet.

2. In' an automatic flushing apparatus, the combination with the a waste outlet for said object, a flush water supply, a control valve for said supply, fluid pressure operated means for opening and closing said valve, a relief valve in said waste' outlet for varying said fluid pressure an expansible element in said waste p outlet foroperatlng sa-id relief valve.

' 3. In an automatic flushing apparatus, the

object to be flushed, of

combination with the a waste outlet for said object, a flush 4water supply, a control valve for said supply, fluid pressure voperated closing said valve, a relief valve in s'aid waste outletfor varying said fluid pressure to operate said valve controlling means, anda thermostatie element in said Waste outlet adapted to vary in length forfoperating said relief valve' upon a change in temperature in said waste outlet.

4. In an automatic flushing apparatus, the combination with the object to be flushed, of a waste outlet for said object,

object to be flushed, of

means for@l opening and [to operate said valve controlling means, and

a flush Water supply, al`control valve for said supply, fluid pressure operating means for opening and closing said valve, a relief valve in said Waste outlet for` varying said fluid pressure to operate said valve controlling means, a coil supported in said Waste outlet to be engaged by the substance vpassing through the outlet, an expansible element communicating With the coil and adapted to operate said relief valve when expanded and contracted, and a volatile liquid inl said coil and expansible element adapted to be expanded and contracted as the substance passing through the waste outlet changes in temperature.

5. The combination With an urinal, a flush Water supply pipe therefor, and a Waste pipe connected thereto, of a`valve located inthe supply pipe, means connected to the valve to be operated by the pressure of the supply water for opening said valve, a tube for holding Water which acts as a back pressure to prevent thewater supply pressure from operating said means to open said valve, and automatic means for draining the Water from said tube to permit the valve to open.

6. The combination with an urinal, a flush Water supply pipe therefor, and a Waste pipe connected thereto, of a valve located in the supply pipe, means connected to the valve to be operated by the pressure of the supply water for opening said valve, a tube for holding Water which acts as a back pressure to prevent the water supply pressure from operating said means'to open said valve, and means rendered active by the change in temperature in said waste pipe for draining the Water from said tube to permit the valve to open.

7 The combination with an urinal, a

flush Water supply pipe therefor, and a Waste pipe connected thereto, of a valve located in the supply pipe, means connected to the valve to be loperated by the pressure of the supply Water for opening said valve, a tube for holding water which acts as a back pressure to prevent the water supply pressure from operating said means to open said valve, said tube-terminating at one end in the Waste pipe, and a valve at said terminal of the tube for draining the Water from the latter to permit the supply valve A to open.

8. The combination with an urinal, a flush Water supply pipe therefor, and .a Waste pipe connected thereto, of a valve located in the supply pipe, means connected to the valve to be operated by the pressure of the supply water for opening said valve,

'a tube for holding water which acts as a said valve, said tube terminating at one end in the waste pipe, a valve at said terminal of the tube for draining the Water from the latter to permit the supply valve to open, and automatic means for operating said last mentioned valve When vthe urinal is used.

9. The combination with an urinal, a flush Water supply pipe therefor, and a Waste pipe connected thereto, of a valve located in the supply pipe, means connected to the valve to be operated by the pressure of the supply Water for opening said valve, a tube for holding Water which acts asa back pressure to prevent the Water supply' pressure from operating said means to open said valve, said tube terminating at one end in the Waste pipe, a valve at said terminal of the tube for'draining the Water from the latter to permit the supply valve to open, and means rendered active by the change in temperature in `said Waste pipe for operating said last mentioned valve.

10. In an automatic flushing apparatus, the combination 'with the object to be iiushed, of a Waste outlet for said object, a flush Water supply,l a control valve for said supply, Huid pressure operating means for opening and closing said valve, a relief valve in said Waste outlet for varying said fluid pressure to operate said valve controlling means, an element spanning said butlet, a block depending therefrom, an eX- pansible element carried by said block and adapted to operate said relief valve when expanded and contracted, and a fluid in said element adapted to expand' and contract as the temperature in the Waste pipe changes. 4

11. In an automatic" flushing apparatus, the combination with an urinal, of a Waste outlet therefor, a flush Water supply, pressure operated means for controlling said water supply, and a thermo unit in said waste outlet for govern-ing said pressure operated means, said thermo unit including a support carried by the outlet, a hollow block depending from said support, a tubular coilclosed at one end and communicating atyits other end with the interiorl JAMES J. LAWLER. 

